Southland Horticultural Society

Southland Times, Issue 11298, 2 November 1889, Page 3

Southland Horticultural Society

♦ The committee meeting of this Society, held yesterday evening, was attended by Messrs J. P. Joyce (in the chair), J. T. Martin, Challis, Cochran, Kirwan, Longuet, J. H. Kingsland, Edgington, Stewart, Anderson, Hill, and Wilson. The Secretary read the following letter received by him from the Dunedin Horticultural Society : — " I am directed by the committee of the Dunedin Horticultural Society to inform you that the forthcoming summer and autumn shows of this Society on December 20th and 21st, 1889, and March 7th and Bth, 1890, re spectively, will be held in the Inter-Golonial Exhibition Building, Dunedin, and will consequently to some extent be viewed by visitors as representative of the present state of colonial horticulture. That being so it is highly desirable that the shows should be made as attractive and as actually, representative as circumstances will permit, and to that end I am directed to invite the cooperation of your Society so far as practicable. Distance may possibly be a bar to members of your Society forwarding pot plants for exhibition, but cut flowers, if judiciously cut and carefully forwarded, can be sent long distances so as to arrive in splendid order, as has been demonstrated, notably by magnificent exhibits of roses and carnations sent from Christchurch. As the Inter-Colonial Exhibition will be far the largest which has ever been held in New Zealand and will no doubt attract great numbers of visitors from all parts of this colony and Australia it is needless to point out that for nurserymen and florists these shows offer immense advantages as an advertising medium. I forward to you per book post 6 copies of our prize schedule, and the committee of this Society will esteem it a favour if you will kindly endeavour to obtain the assistance of your members in this matter and so further the work in which all horticultural societies are alike engaged. — I am, &c, Andbew Beach, Secretary." A lengthy discussion ensued, in the course of which the practical difficulties of compliance with the request were gone into. It was agreed that special train accommodation would be necessary ; that at least two properly qualified men would have to accompany the exhibits to ensure [their safe delivery aud return, and to attend to the pot plants, &c, during the time they were on view. This would of course involve an amount of expense the Society was not in a position to provide for. It was resolved, on the motion of Mr Kingsland, seconded by Mr Cochraue, that the secretary be instructed to inquire of the Dunedin Society as to whether they could arrange with the Exhibition Commissioners to communicate with the Government, asking whether free railway transit of exhibits and of those in charge of same would be conceded, or what concession, if any, would be made. Mr Martin said he had a matter of some importance to Ye Society on which he would like the opinions of those present. The Caledonian Society of Southland two years ago introduced an innovation in the shape of a concert on the evening of their New Year's Da} sports. This operated most prejudicially on the Horticultural Society, which had always reckoned upon having that evening clear of other entertainments — at all events of local origin. He thought that if the Caledonians were approached in a friendly manner they might be disposed to give their entertainment on some other date, and he felt sure that their interests would not be injured thereby. After discussion it was moved by Mr Martin, seconded by Mr Stewart and carried, that a sub-committee, consisting of the Rev. J. Ferguson, Dr Closs, the secretary, and the mover wait upon the President of the Caledonian Society, in the first instance, and arrange with them for a conference on the subject. The meeting then adjourned.